|
I was on this for about 6-7 months, i had pretty hardcore acne (it was actually systic acne, i got a lot of systs of my face, i still have some under the skin that have stayed there) back in the day. I didnt realise it until i looked at my passport photo a few days ago  . Whatever you want to know about it you can ask me i guess.
I had no depression at all, however my dermatologist didnt tell me anything about this side affect at all (and it wasnt listed in the papers i dont think) but since i had read about it elsewhere i told some people to watch out for me and if i started getting depressed then tell me. So do the same i guess. If you feel depressed now then dont take it. I didnt really feel bad about my acne and it didnt really affect my image in my mind that much (i mean i had girlfriend, plenty of friends, no one ever hassled me about it).
Other side affects i had was hugely dry skin (the way it works is something similar to eating up all the vitamin a and that protects your skin/keeps it moist i guess) and lips. Nose was also dry, and i got a few random nose bleeds during the course of it. One during an exam, that was pretty fun. You get nose bleeds because the lining of your nose (i dont know medically what it is) gets dry, cracks, and then blood starts flowing. Because to the dry skin i got sunburnt really easily. Your face gets the dryest, but other areas are drier than usual. Scratches/Wounds/Injuries involving skin take twice to three times as longer to heal (another undocumented side affect) for me. Just be careful and if you get cut then keep putting plasters on. Achy joints is a pain too, achy knees and elbows for me. Especially after/during sport, but sometimes for no reason at all. I had to go get 2 blood tests during my 6-7 months and everything was fine with my blood and liver.
It doesnt cost much i think, 40 dollars a pack. I think there is about 60 tablets in pack. At the start you should get a pack with suncream, moisturiser, lip balm etc so that offsets the costs a bit. However really it depends on the dosage you take. Your meant to go back to your dermatologist every 2 months or so. You start off one 1 tablet a day (40mg if i remember) and basically your dosage gets bumped every time you go back and he sees that your doing ok, and the condition of your acne. In the end i was on 2 tabs in the morning and 2 at night.
Some more recommendations if you do go on it. Only take the dose that your meant to. Especially at the start, later on it doesnt matter as much. Dont double up if you missed one in the morning, again, especially at the start since your body isnt used to it. Towards the end if i forgot to take some in the morning then i would take 3 at night, didnt affect me. But irregular doses were at one stage thought to be linked to the depression thing. Especially going off it, then going back on it, then off, etc. Try and stick to what your meant to take, yes its a pain in the ass but you will be off it sooner. Also when your moisturise your face, dont get any on the acne since that makes it last longer as your trying to dry it out.
Roaccutane, Accutane, whatever other name it goes by = Isotretnoin.
So there you go, a huge post about my experience. It was defineatly worth it for me, since i had pretty horrible acne. If you have any more questions then just ask me.
That turned out to be a huge post.
|
